The Molecules of HIV

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Note: this site last updated in 2006

viral membrane

An article from "The Molecules of HIV" (c) Dan Stowell
www.mcld.co.uk/hiv

The membrane is an approximately spherical layer that surrounds the inner core. It is made of the same type of substances (lipids) as cell membranes. The "matrix protein", p17, lines the inner surface of the membrane.

On the surface of the membrane are many "spikes" made of envelope protein (env). These spikes are important because they are used to latch on to potential host cells - without them the virus particle would normally just float around and not do very much at all.

Written by
Dan Stowell
(©2002-2006)